A class action lawsuit against General Motors accused the company of emissions cheating on its heavy-duty diesel pickup trucks. The lawsuit alleges that GM installed a “defeat device” on certain GMC and Chevrolet truck models in order to conceal the high emissions levels of these vehicles from regulators and consumers.

This emissions software was installed on 2011-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD Duramax diesel pickup trucks and GMC Sierra 2500HD and 3500HD Duramax diesel pickup trucks. The lawsuit alleges that this software was programmed to make the vehicles appear to emit lower levels of emissions during testing. The software was installed on about 705,000 Chevy and GMC pickup trucks that were sold in the U.S.

The emissions cheating software that was allegedly installed on the affected models was intended to adjust the emissions levels of these vehicles when they are operated under certain temperature conditions. When the trucks are driven at temperatures between 68-86 degrees – the temperatures under which emissions testing is conducted – the vehicles release exhaust emissions that are within federal pollution guidelines. However, when the trucks are operated at temperatures outside this range, the trucks can emit pollution levels that are four to five times greater than what is allowed under environmental laws.

The lawsuit alleges that GM deliberately designed emissions software that was installed on the affected trucks in order to allow these vehicles to pass emissions tests. By scaling back the circumstances in which these emissions controls would operate under real world conditions, GM was able to produce trucks that could pass emissions tests while delivering performance and fuel-economy that would be impossible if these vehicles were in compliance with federal law.

According to the lawsuit, GM misrepresented the performance and fuel efficiency of the affected Chevy and GMC trucks to consumers. The Sierra and Silverado models that were equipped with the defeat device were only able to achieve the powerful torque and towing capacity advertised by GM through an emissions system that released pollution into the atmosphere which far exceeds federal environmental lawsuit and fuel efficiency standards. By misrepresenting the eco-friendliness of these vehicles, consumers paid about $5,000 more for environmental benefits in their trucks which the vehicles failed to deliver.

The class action lawsuit also alleges that auto parts manufacturer Bosch played an integral role in the alleged emissions cheating on GMC and Chevy trucks. The lawsuit states that Bosch was “an active and knowing participant in the scheme” by supplying the electronic controls that allowed GM to install the defeat devices on its vehicles.

Chevy and GMC Truck Owners May Qualify to File a Lawsuit

Consumers who purchased or leased a 2011-2016 Chevy Silverado 2500 or 3500 HD Duramax diesel truck or a 2011-2016 GMC Sierra 2500 or 3500 HD Duramax diesel truck may be able to take legal action against GM for their alleged emissions cheating. The first step in taking legal action is to speak with an experienced attorney who can advise you regarding your legal rights and guide you through the first steps of filing a case.

The lawyers at Heygood, Orr & Pearson represent numerous owners of the Chevy and GMC trucks affected by the emissions cheating scandal. We have also represented hundreds of VW and Audi owners in lawsuits filed against these companies over emissions cheating on VW and Audi diesel and gasoline models. One of our partners, Michael Heygood, was named to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in California that has helped to oversee the Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) against Volkswagen on behalf of VW and Audi diesel owners nationwide.

Heygood, Orr & Pearson has also filed hundreds of lawsuits involving product liability, commercial litigation, class actions, and other legal matters. When corporations such as Audi and Volkswagen mislead their customers, we believe that these companies should be held accountable for their wrongdoing in a court of law. Our lawyers have taken on some of the world’s largest corporations on behalf of our clients to ensure that they receive the compensation to which they are entitled.

For more information about the emissions cheating lawsuits filed by Heygood, Orr & Pearson and to find out whether you may qualify to file a lawsuit, contact our office by calling toll-free at 1-877-446-9001. You can also reach us by following the link to our free case evaluation form and answering a few brief questions to get started.